Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress has been associated with cervical cancer. Our aim was to examine lipid peroxidation and the extent of oxidative stress in women diagnosed with different stages of cervical cancer in order to evaluate its potential role in the evolution of cancer. METHODS: We measured the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, activities of antioxidative enzymes and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in 153 subjects. Enzymatic activity as well as TBARS concentration were measured spectrophotometrically, while 8-OHdG was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. PPatients were categorized: group II H-SIL; group III FIGO Ia-Ib and group IV FIGO IIa-IV. RESULTS: Our results showed highly significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation in group IV when com pared to the control group, group II and group III (p<0.001). Activity of superoxide dismutase was also significantly higher in group IV when compared to control group (p<0.01), group II (p<0.01) and group III (p<0.05). Activity of catalase was also significantly higher in group IV when compared to control group (p<0.005), group II (p<0.005) and group III (p<0.05). Activity of glutathione-S-transferase was also significantly higher in group IV when compared to control group (p<0.05), group II (p<0.05) and group III (p<0.05). Activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase showed no significant differences among the groups. Level of 8-OHdG was significantly higher in group IV than in the other groups (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that oxidative stress is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, demonstrated by increased lipid peroxidation and an altered antioxidant defense system and higher levels of 8-OHdG.